Controller and method

Abstract

A controller for a collision warning system of a vehicle, wherein the controller comprises an input configured to receive first vehicle data indicative of one or more parameters of a first vehicle and target object data indicative of one or more parameters of a target object. The controller further comprises a processor configured to define a warning zone in dependence on the first vehicle data and to determine, in dependence on the target object data and the warning zone, a collision indicator. The controller further comprises an output arranged to output a control signal to a vehicle system in dependence on the collision indicator. Other aspects of the invention relate to a sensor system for a collision warning system, to a vehicle comprising the controller or the sensor system, to a method for a collision warning system, to a computer program product comprising instructions for carrying out the method, and to a computer readable data carrier having stored thereon instructions for carrying out the method.

1 . A controller for a collision warning system of a vehicle, the controller comprising:
 an input configured to receive first vehicle data indicative of one or more parameters of a first vehicle and target object data indicative of one or more parameters of a target object;   a processor configured to define a warning zone in dependence on the first vehicle data and to determine, in dependence on the target object data and the warning zone, a collision indicator; and   an output arranged to output a control signal to a vehicle system in dependence on the collision indicator.   
     
     
         2 . The controller of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more parameters of the first vehicle includes one or more of a position of the first vehicle, a position of the target object, acceleration of the first vehicle, acceleration of the target object, rate of change of acceleration of the first vehicle, rate of change of acceleration of the target object, velocity of the first vehicle and velocity of the target object. 
     
     
         3 . The controller of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to define a dimension of the warning zone in dependence on the first vehicle data. 
     
     
         4 . The controller of  claim 3 , wherein the processor is configured to define a length of the warning zone in dependence on the first vehicle data. 
     
     
         5 . The controller of  claim 4 , wherein the length of the warning zone is less than or equal to a maximum threshold value. 
     
     
         6 . The controller of  claim 5 , wherein the maximum threshold value is 6 meters. 
     
     
         7 . The controller of  claim 4 , wherein the length of the warning zone is greater than or equal to a minimum threshold value. 
     
     
         8 . The controller of  claim 7 , wherein the minimum threshold value is 2 meters. 
     
     
         9 . The controller of  claim 4 , wherein the processor is configured to determine the length of the warning zone based on at least one of a reaction distance, a braking distance and an error margin distance. 
     
     
         10 . The controller of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured to determine the length of the warning zone as a sum of the reaction distance, the braking distance and the error margin distance. 
     
     
         11 . The controller of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to define the warning zone as being rearward of the first vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The controller of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to determine a time to collision for the target object in dependence on a velocity of the target object and a distance between the target object and the warning zone; and wherein the output is arranged to output a control signal in dependence on the time to collision being less than a predetermined threshold time. 
     
     
         13 . The controller of  claim 12 , wherein the output is configured to output a control signal comprising instructions for activating a braking system in dependence on the time to collision being less than or equal to the predetermined threshold time. 
     
     
         14 . The controller of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is configured to determine the predetermined threshold time in dependence on at least one of a reaction time, a braking time and an error margin time. 
     
     
         15 . The controller of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to define a curved dimension and/or an orientation of the warning zone in dependence on a steering angle of the first vehicle and to determine, in dependence on the target object data and curved dimension of the warning zone, a collision risk; and the output is arranged to output a control signal to the vehicle system in dependence on the collision risk. 
     
     
         16 . A sensor system comprising a sensor for generating the first vehicle data and a controller as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . A vehicle comprising the sensor system of  claim 16 . 
     
     
         18 . A vehicle comprising the controller of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         19 . A method for a collision warning system of a vehicle, the method comprising:
 determining first vehicle data indicative of one or more parameters of a first vehicle and target object data indicative of one or more parameters of a target object;   defining a warning zone in dependence on the first vehicle data and determining, in dependence on the target object data and the warning zone, a collision indicator; and   controlling operation of a vehicle system in dependence on the collision indicator.   
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium storing instructions thereon that when executed by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to carry out the method of  claim 16 .